The Highest Mountains in Western Europe | USA Today The Highest Mountains in Western Europe The Alps are home to Mont Blanc, Europe's tallest peak. (Photo: Hemera Technologies/AbleStock.com/Getty Images ) Physical Characteristics of the Appalachian Mountains Sometime between 400 and 260 million years ago, the African tectonic plate ground against the Laurasian plate, slowly thrusting Europe's crust upward, creating the continent's hills and mountain ranges. While the Alps are home to Europe's tallest peaks, the continent's other ranges boast towering peaks that attract geologists and mountain climbers alike. From peaks towering over the counterparts in the Appenines and Pyrenees, to freestanding mountains and active volcanoes, almost every country in western Europe boasts at least one impressive mountain. Alps At 15,771 feet, Mont Blanc is Europe's tallest peak, straddling the borders of Italy and France. Visitors can travel via cable car from the French town of Chamonix to the mountain's Italian side, enjoying Alpine vistas as they soar to heights of over 15,000 feet. (Ref.

5) The Zugspitze is Germany's tallest mountain, standing almost 10,000 feet tall. Travelers can ascend the mountain by rail or cable car, and enjoy views at the summit overlooking four nations. Balkans Mount Musala is located within Bulgaria's Rila National Park and at 9,596 feet, stands as the tallest peak in the Balkans. The mountain receives more than 50,000 visitors annually, and travelers can ascend to the summit by riding the park's gondola to the base of the hiking trail and walking the remaining distance. Visitors can buy souvenirs and hot beverages at the summit's weather station. Mount Olympos is Greece's tallest mountain at 9,570 feet and the legendary home of the Greek gods. Visitors can explore the museum at the mountain's base, and explore the nearby ancient theater, where actors still perform classic dramas during the annual Olympus Festival. Greenland Gunnbjorn is Greenland's highest peak and at 12,136 feet, it's also the tallest in the Arctic.

The mountain takes its name from Gunnbjorn, a ninth-century Norse explorer who, according to legend, discovered Greenland when he was blown off course during an expedition. Pyrenees Spain's Pico de Aneto is the tallest mountain in the Pyrenees, standing 11,167 feet tall. Pico de Aneto also holds the Pyrenees' largest glacier, which covers 403 acres. The glacier's current size fuels concerns over global warming, as it covered 1710 acres during the final years of the 19th century. Russian climber Platon de Tchihatcheff, Count Albert de Franqueville of France and four guides became the first men to reach the summit in July 1842. Sierra Nevada Spain's Mulhacen is Europe's tallest peak outside the Alps and Caucasus ranges, standing 11,410 feet tall. The mountain takes its name from Grenada's 15th-century Muslim ruler, King Abu l-Hassan Ali, who the Spanish called Muley Hacen. According to legend, the king lies at rest on Mulhacen's summit.

The mountain attracts both beginning mountaineers, who can easily ascend the south and west ridges, and more experienced climbers attracted by the challenge of Mulhacen's north face. Sicily Sicily's Mount Etna is Europe's largest active volcano, looming 10,902 feet above the island, and continues to threaten nearby villages. As of May 2011, Mount Etna had erupted twice during the year. Depending on the volcano's activity, travelers may be able to travel to the summit, striding through the smoky fields of hardened lava that encircle the mountain's churning cauldron. References Aneto : Climbing, Hiking & Mountaineering : SummitPost Images Overview Aneto, sometimes named Nethou in France, is the highest mountain in the Pyrenees and one of the most known peaks of Aragon, together with Monte Perdido and Vignemale. The height of the mountain is 3.408 m for the SGE but the Spanish IGN, French IGN, Alpina and Prames maps show 3.404 m as the real altitude of the peak.

On the summit there are many objects: the big metallic cross of CEC, Our Lady of Pilar, San Marcial Chapel, the survey point and some memorial plaques. Aneto is located in Macizo de la Maladeta (Montes Malditos for the mythology), in the Pyrenean axial zone, that constitutes the axis of the mountain range. This axial zone is formed by paleozoics sedimentaries materials and intrusives rocks that were raised in block during the alpine orogenesys. Later, the quaternary glaciers excavated deep valleys in whose bottoms they are conserved more than 2,200 lakes or ibones (mountain lakes). A rest of this glaciarism is the glacier of Aneto (the biggest in the Pyrenees), in regression, formed by a circus of 132 Ha / 326 acres in surface and 50 m / 164 ft in thickness.The ice moves 35 meters / 115 ft each year on the average.

Waters of fusion coming from the glacier are going to stop to the Garona river by the karstic drain of Forau de Aigualluts, and also they contribute partly to the Ésera river. Normal routes Portillones, Inferior or Superior (NW) Valle de Coronas (W) Eric Voted 10/10 "Néthou" is a very old fashion name to which old pyreneist french book refer, but which is not used anymore nowadays in France. Posted Oct 10, 2008 11:05 am coorige la posición Voted 10/10 el mapa del google te ha dejado en evidencia con la cima situada erroneamente. Es fácil de arreglar ya que en el mapa en relieve de google aparace el nombre de esta cumbre emblemática del Pirineo y no te tienes que volver loco buscando las coordenadas Posted Aug 30, 2010 2:42 pm Re: corrige la posición Voted 10/10 Dime la posición correcta, porque si Wikipedia y el libro de Alberto Martínez Embid titulado "Aneto.

El Monarca del Pirineo" dan esas coordenadas que he puesto en mi página será por algo. Google Maps no da coordenadas... Posted Aug 31, 2010 6:46 am Re: coorige la posición Voted 10/10 no son imprescindibles ahora las coordenadas en SP, basta con que mires el mapa al editar la página a la derecha ampliando con el zoom, aparece un letrero bien claro en el mapa en relieve de google que dice Pico de Aneto y otro en el Pico de la Maladeta (que curiosamente está duplicado sobre el Maldito). Pulsas sobre el Aneto con el ratón y das doble click y ya te mueve la posición, no te comas mucho la cabeza. Lo verás también si pulsas sobre la coordenada en tu página de Aneto, verás que sale en medio del glaciar en la vertiente de Barrancs. Los picos yo ya suelo poner a ojo también ya que con el relieve si sabes donde cae se suele acertar.

Yo para el Sacroux me ha bastado seguir la linea de la frontera y donde hace la curva le he dado click para fijar allí la posición y ya está, ya sé que es allí. Y luego cambian con el tiempo claro los datum que usan, yo tengo libros de montes de Navarra de los años 70 y 80 que dan unas coordenadas que no coincide ninguna con las actuales de los mapas de Alpina o el gobierno de Navarra que usan el ED50. Aparte del error que tiene el mapa de google (que es de unos pocos metros sólo, en general menos de 100m), lo de las coordenadas es a veces error de Datum, es decir no son iguales las coordenadas en ED50 (european datum de 1950) que usan casi todos los mapas de España y Portugal, que en el WGS84 (mundial global de 1984), etc, más luego que para summitpost hay que convertirlas a decimal del sistema hexadecimal que usan los otros. Se debe a la tecnología de google que usa decimal y no hexadecimal.

Todos los mapas llevan indicado el datum en que se ha basado escrito, pero los libros o enciclopedias a veces no te explican que datum han usado, a veces ni saben lo que es un datum. Antes de la era GPS y de la era internet daba casi igual pero ahora no, ya que aunque son parecidos pueden dar errores de 100 a 400 metros (según el datum que sea), lo que pasa es que al pasar los datos de los ordenadores los aparatos son muy listos y lo pasan al datum que lleves metido en el gps, pero cuando se hace a mano surgen las discrepancias. No sé si me he enrollado mucho o te he aclarado algo, pero es algo que la gente no conoce, se piensan que sólo hay una única e inamovible coordenada de la cima de un monte, una especie de cifra mágica inalterable en todo el planeta Tierra.

Y bueno que google usa el formato kml del google Earth que automaticamente lo trasforma el summitpost pero es un sistema de coordenadas diferente y si tuvieras que hacerlo a mano o con ordenador saldrían cifras ligeramente distintas.

p.ej.Con el programa oziexplorer puedes ir cambiando las coordenadas de la cima del Aneto sobre el mapa de Alpina digital de Benasque -Aneto en ED50: 42º 37' 55,74''N; 0º 39' 29,04''E -Aneto en WGS84: 42º 37' 51,84''N; 0º 39' 24,79''E Pero claro, el mapa puede estar mal, ya que la coordenada real cogida con mi gps en la cima es (ya te pongo sólo en wgs84 pa no liar): -42º 37' 52,14''N; 0º 39' 23,94''E (que parece coincidir bastante) para poner la de SP ya deberías partir de la WGS84 que sin un programa informático no la vas a sacar conviertiendo la de tu libro o tu mapa que es ED50, pero afortunadamente nuestro error de datum en España suele rondar los

 200m o así.

Y luego pasarías esas cifras en hexadecimal (sistema de 60) en decimal que usan SP y google, es decir: 42+(37/60)+(51,84/3600) y así obtienes la primera que es 42.63106 (tú tienes 42.63110 que está bien) vamos con la otra: 0+(39/60)+(24,79/3600)= 0.65688, que en SP al ser Este lo mantienes (si fuese oeste deberías poner un - delante). En esta es la que está el fallo ya que tienes 0.68140.

aun y todo olvidate de la calculadora y usa el mapa y ya está, creo es más fácil, porque queda el pequeño error del google que si has pulsado las coordenadas en la web del monte y estás viendo el mapa con los montes como gotas rojas, pulsas sobre el evidente cono que pone Aneto y te centra la página sobre la coordenada: Latitude=42.63070°, Longitude=0.65688 lo que viene a decir que la coordenada real queda un pelín de nada al Norte (42.63106 respecto a 42.63070) del cono ése que pone google. bueno, espero te haya aclarado algo, que no sé si te habré liado más o no Posted Aug 31, 2010 11:32 am Re: corrige la posición Voted 10/10 Voy a investigar más a ver si esas poco más de 2 centésimas de longitud (hexadecimal) que marca Google respecto a mis datos son reales, no lo tengo muy claro.

Por cierto, corrijo el título de los mensajes ;-) Posted Sep 1, 2010 6:44 am Re: corrige la posición Voted 10/10 ¿y por qué no lo tienes claro?, es la posición que indican los mapas disponibles en España, sólo que en otras unidades. ¿cómo la habías calculado tú para que te salga diferente? Posted Sep 1, 2010 5:17 pm Re: corrige la posición Voted 10/10 Pués por los motivos que te he dicho, dame unos días Rafa, estoy pasando una mala racha como puedes ver en el Forum / Mountain Medicine & Rescue / Calcium, magnesium or potassium for stiff muscles?

Posted Sep 3, 2010 6:32 am Re: coorige la posición Voted 10/10 Rafa, haciendo mediciones a partir del mapa de Alpina "Maladeta Aneto Valle de Benasque" 1:25000 de 1999, elaborado a partir de la Base Cartográfica del SGE; me da que la longitud es 0º 39' 36.88"E, lo cual sería 39/60 + (36.88/3600) = 0.6602. Luego así la voy a dejar para el Aneto. Además coincide con la que da Google Maps a escala máxima (0.66021). Se confirma que el libro antes citado por mi y en el cual me basaba da una longitud errónea. Gracias Voted 10/10 de nada. Alpina sacó un mapa digital actualizado en 2002 que es el que saqué yo la coordenada que está basado en ese de 1999.

Los libros y mapas antiguos pasa eso que los sistemas y mapas cambian con el tiempo no es que se hubieran equivocado. Incluso los datum los actulizan y los calibran. Hay incluso mapas actuales que no especifican el datum que llevan (p.ej. los de Sua de Angulo). Los de Alpina lo ponen casi siempre(suele poner Longitudes referidas al meridiano de Greenwich, Datum Europeo 1950, fijate y verás debajo de la calibración), lo que supone que al menos un poquito habría que cambiarla al internacional WGS84 pero ya te dije es poquito con el ED50 tampoco te merece mucho la pena pa 200 metros que suele ser. Eso es algo que SP ni en Google map explican ya que en USA usan el WGS84 y dan por supuesto que es el standard.

el WGS 1984 se revisará en 2010: en fin, yo te respondo porque veo que te interesa el tema, pero si ves que soy un pesao me lo dices tranquilamente y me mandas a la porra. enlaces: ED50 eso sí nos dejan convivir hasta el 2015, pero en España, YA NO ES OFICIAL EL ED50, ya que el gobierno por real decreto adoptó el ETRS89 en el año 2008 como en resto de Europa.

En los próximos 5 años por tanto irán apareciendo mapas en otro sistema de coordenadas y la gente se volverá loca consultando un mapa de 1999 o 2010 en el 2015 preguntándose por qué las coordenadas no salen iguales si el monte no se ha movido, lo que no es cierto porque LOS MONTES SE MUEVEN (en efecto la placa continental europea se mueve 3cm por año o sea que el Aneto en 30 años se movería 1 metro pero la coordenada se mantendrá la misma). A lo que vamos, ahora canta menos el Aneto que por lo menos sale cerca de la posición del mapa de google.

saludos del "pesao moscacojonera" y ánimos pa que te recuperes de tus problemillas Posted Sep 7, 2010 3:06 pm Pyrenees | mountain range, Europe | Britannica.com mountain range, Europe Alternative Titles: Pireneus, Pirineos, Pyrénées Related Topics list of cities and towns in France Pyrenees, Spanish Pirineos, French Pyrénées, Catalan Pireneus, mountain chain of southwestern Europe that consists of flat-topped massifs and folded linear ranges. It stretches from the shores of the Mediterranean Sea on the east to the Bay of Biscay on the Atlantic Ocean on the west. The Pyrenees form a high wall between France and Spain that has played a significant role in the history of both countries and of Europe as a whole. The range is some 270 miles (430 kilometres) long; it is barely six miles wide at its eastern end, but at its centre it reaches some 80 miles in width. At its western end it blends imperceptibly into the Cantabrian Mountains along the northern coast of the Iberian Peninsula.

Except in a few places, where Spanish territory juts northward or French southward, the crest of the chain marks the boundary between the two countries, though the tiny autonomous principality of Andorra lies among its peaks. The highest point is Aneto Peak , at 11,169 feet (3,404 metres), in the Maladeta (Spanish: “Accursed”) massif of the Central Pyrenees. Aneto Peak in the Pyrenees. Avh The Pyrenees long have been a formidable land barrier between Spain and Portugal on the Iberian Peninsula and the rest of Europe; as a consequence, these two countries traditionally have developed stronger associations with Africa than with the rest of Europe, and they have become tied to the sea. From Carlit Peak (9,584 feet) near the eastern limit of the Pyrenees to the peaks of Orhy and Anie , a succession of mountains rise nearly 9,800 feet; at only a few places, all well to the west, can the chain be crossed through passes lower than 6,500 feet. In both the lower eastern and northwestern sectors, rivers dissect the landscape into numerous small basins.

The range is flanked on both sides by broad depressions—the Aquitaine and Languedoc to the north and the Ebro to the south—both receiving waters from the major rivers flowing out of the mountains, the Garonne of France and the major tributaries of the Ebro of Spain. Physical features World War II Forms of life in the Pyrenees have some remarkable characteristics that cannot be explained merely by the influences of climate and soil. The historical vicissitudes of the chain and its isolation at the southwestern limit of the main European peninsula, far from the centres of dispersion and variation of the various species (including humans), have influenced the structure and character of its population. In the northwest–southeast direction, the vegetation shows a marked and gradually decreasing oceanic influence; the contrary is the case with the Mediterranean influence from southeast to northwest. The exposure of the mountain surfaces and the conditions of local climate caused by mountain relief create special localized enclaves of all kinds.

The most characteristic feature of the oceanic influence is the predominance of broad-leaved deciduous trees in the forests of the lower levels and the medium-height mountains, while the Mediterranean influence, represented by evergreen broad-leaved trees, not only is dominant in hot surroundings but also bears drought conditions better. The variety of altitudinal vegetation shows itself in levels. From the medium-height mountain upward, the broad-leaved woods at about 5,200 feet are replaced by needled conifers that require less water. The subalpine level, sometimes as low as 6,500 feet but usually above 7,800 feet, gives way to the more sparsely covered pastures of the alpine level. This altitudinal scheme pertains in the vegetation east of the Orhy and Anie peaks. The oceanic influence, however, with its greater rainfall gives the west of the chain a different pattern. Broad-leaved deciduous beeches may be found as high as 5,850 feet, with some mix of the subalpine conifers, and there the high pastures are more resistant to damp and permanent snow. Overall the landscape is more like that of the high mountains of western Europe.

The Mediterranean influence expands through the entire valley of the Ebro, but it acquires marked signs of a more variable continental climate in the Central Pyrenees. There, great quantities of mountain pines , which are more drought-resistant, take the place of deciduous trees in the higher, colder, and drier parts of the medium and higher levels of the southern slopes. Some groups among the fauna, such as the cave-dwelling animals and frogs and toads , represent a migratory wave that came from ancient Tyrrhenia—associated with Corsica and Sardinia—and displaced certain native European species, relegating them to the Cantabrian Mountains. The Pyrenean fauna is rich today in larger herbivores as well as in the variety and abundance of predators. Some species, such as the wolf , lynx , and brown bear , have disappeared or had their numbers severely reduced in the northern Pyrenees, although the marmot has been successfully reintroduced. The southern Pyrenees, however, represent one of the last important reserves for wild European fauna driven out of sectors more heavily populated by humans.

The present distribution and differentiation of large, warm-blooded animals is undoubtedly connected with the climate and the landscape, but the central-European origin of Pyrenean fauna is clear; for example, of the two species of desman (a semiaquatic member of the mole family), one inhabits the Pyrenees and the other southwestern Russia . Similar comments may be made as to the origin of all cold-blooded animals as well as of the vegetation. Basic differentiations exist among the latter. Pyrenean flora of tropical origin differentiated without any ancient European competition as the new chain replaced the old Hercynian; flora of Arctic origin, brought southward during relatively recent ice ages, are represented by two different branches of orophiles, or plants adapted to mountain life, from central Europe and from Siberia. Other orophiles have long been differentiated, but they are of Mediterranean origin and are dominant in the drier, sunnier parts of the southern slopes. An Atlantic group of flora predominates in the Western Pyrenees. People and economy The Pyrenees are the home of a variety of peoples, including the Andorrans, Catalans , Béarnais, and Basques .

Each speaks its own dialect or language , and each desires to maintain and even augment its own autonomy while at the same time acknowledging a general unity among Pyrenean peoples. Of these groups, only the Andorrans have anything approaching a sovereign state, and even then Andorra is an autonomous principality with close ties to both Spain and France. The Basques, perhaps the best-known Pyrenean people, speak a language that is non-Indo-European and have a long tradition of fiercely defending their autonomy. The people of the Pyrenees traditionally have depended on agriculture and livestock raising for their livelihood. The factors that influenced the development of Pyrenean flora also influenced traditional land usage, the kind of crops raised, and the farming system of each district. Typical Mediterranean products such as wines, vegetables, and fruits predominate in the Eastern Pyrenees and at the foot of the chain’s southern slope, while in the Western and Central Pyrenees, with their abundant rainfall, potatoes, sweet corn, and forage crops are grown.

Livestock breeding, the other essential element of the traditional economy, consists of a seasonal process of moving flocks of sheep and cows up and down the mountains and also using as well as possible the meadows of the valley bottoms and the pastures of the higher altitudes, depending on the snow cover. Frequently in winter, the livestock herds travel far from the Pyrenees, moving to the plains of the Ebro, near the Mediterranean Sea in Languedoc, or to the moors of Aquitaine. This traditional organization—in which the common exploitation of forest areas for timber also played a large part—has been disappearing slowly. Few young people have been willing to settle into the old ways. Gradually, the less fertile plots have been deserted, and the landscape has become dotted by patches of brooms and brackens and plantings of resinous trees. Even local breeds of sheep or cows have been superseded by imported breeds, which perhaps are more profitable but are less adapted to the climate and the relief. Except for such areas as the Basque Country of Spain and the Roussillon region of France, the agriculture of the Pyrenees is in serious decline.

The growing weakness of the Pyrenean agriculture has not been matched by growth in industry. Although the Pyrenees offer considerable hydroelectric potential, the mining of some resources, and an appreciable and diverse supply of wood , most of the mills ( steel and paper ) and factories ( textiles , chemicals, and shoes) established in the 19th and 20th centuries have faced the threat of closing. Except in the two extremities of the chain, most of the industries are far from any major transportation routes. Scarcely any railroads and no major highways traverse the region, although an express highway is slowly being built between Toulouse, Fr., and Barcelona, Spain. Financed by foreign capital and dependent on the aid of the Spanish and French governments, the remaining factories face an uncertain future. Policies formulated in the 20th century by the two Pyrenean countries helped to both develop and protect the mountains, which have been transformed by a tremendous increase in tourism. Although a boon to the local economy, the crowds of people seeking winter sports, summer sojourns, hunting and fishing, and visits to the national parks of the Central Pyrenees have also contributed to the abandonment of traditional ways of life.

Study and exploration For centuries a general lack of knowledge about the Pyrenees permitted repetition of the errors and misconceptions about the mountains that had been propounded by such authors of antiquity as Diodorus Siculus of Sicily and the Greek geographer-historian Strabo (both 1st century bc). In 1582 the first explorations were made, followed by botanical works from the academies at Montpellier-de-Médillan, Fr., and by other studies, including those of the 18th-century Swiss physicist, geologist, and explorer Horace Bénédict de Saussure . The earliest military map of the region dates from 1719, while early topographical studies were the bases of frontier treaties. In the 19th century the first topographical and geologic maps were made of the mountains, the latter beginning a series of geologic interpretations and controversies among French and Spanish scientists. German studies added to the interpretive geology , but only in 1933 was the first study made that was based on modern research methods.

Since World War II , scientists and scholars from universities, technical institutes, and national councils for research in France and Spain have thoroughly explored the Pyrenees and have produced a wealth of knowledge about the massif. Mountains in Spain - Spanish Mountains Mountains in Spain The highest mountain in the French Pyrenees is Mt Vignemale (3,298m). The highest mountain in Andorra is Coma Pedrosa (2,942m) The highest mountain in Portugal is in Malhão da Estrela (1,991 m) -Azores apart. Richard Ford, the 19th century traveller and first British hispanophile, jokingly said in 'Gatherings from Spain' that the country is just one big mountain. 24% is above 1000 m and 76% between 500 and 1000 m. Spain has an average altitude of 660 metres. In Europe only Switzerland is higher (by a long way - average altitude of 1,300 metres). So it should come as no surprise that Castilian is so rich in words for mountains, hills, cliffs and plateaus. Here's a by no means exhaustive list .

Of the 505,988 km2 of Spain , 57,615 km2 are below 200m, 156,370 km2 are between 201 and 600m, 198,650 km2 are between 601 and 1,000m, 88,766 km2 are between 1,000 and 2000m; and 4,587 km2 higher. Only 12% of mainland Spain lies at a gradient of less than 1 in 20 (5%). The Pyrenees have a maximum width of 130km, run 440 km and cover 55,375 km2. There are 212 peaks above 3,000 m. The highest peak in the Pyrenees is Aneto (3,404m) though until the early 19th century it was thought that Monte Perdido was higher. The largest surviving glacier is on Aneto.

It currently covers 163 ha, down from 692 at the end of the 19th century. See Pyrenean glaciers melting fast . The last glaciers disappeared in the Sierra Nevada in 1913 at Corral de la Veleta what was the southernmost glacier in Europe . Weirdly, Naranjo de Bulnes is exactly 88km from the nearest three provincial capitals: Oviedo, Santender and León. It is known as Naranjo (or Naranco) de Bulnes because of its orange hue in the evening light. The highest mountain in Picos de Europa is Torre Cerredo. They say the Picos get their name from the fact they were the first land to be spotted by sailors returning home from the Atlantic. A Biography of Spanish mountains Highest Mountains in Spain by province ANDALUCIA Length of mountain ranges in Spain and highest mountains Range (km) 3,482 Biography of Spanish mountains (IN PROGRESS) Almanzor : Almanzor (2,592m) in the Sierra de Gredos is the highest mountain in Sistema Central and the province of Ávila .

Formed during the Alpine Orogeny (mountian building), it formed principally of granite and so is not highly weathered. The peak is also known as Moro Almanzor, from Al-Mansur ('the victorious'), the de facto Moorish ruler of Al-Andalus during the late 10th-early 11th centuries. His rule marked what was probably the peak of Islamic power in Spain . Legend has it that Al-Mansur passed by here after a terrible battle with the Christians. He was taken by the beauty of the mountains which at the time functioned as a frontier between Islamic Spain and the Christian North, and so he decided to set up camp for the night. Under the stars, he was captivated by the stories of shepherds from the area. They told him than in the heart of these mountains, terrible noises could be heard that would echo along the gulleys and ravines, and which would shake the very hearts of the people of these parts. The next day, the Moorish king bade the shepherds to lead him to the place they spoke of: a magnificent cirque in centre of the Gredos mountains.

When the company reached the place, they were greeted by a deafening silence. Fearful of the King's reaction, they began to shout his name, which the duly returned amplified as an echo. External links: Ascensión de Alamanzor (Spanish) Aneto : the highest mountain in the Pyrenees at 3,404 metres is part of the Maladetta ridge. The Aneto glacier is still the largest in Spain with 163 ha. though it is melting fast due to climate change and is predicted to succumb by the mid-late 21st century. The glacier covered some 692 ha in 1894 at the close of the so-called Little Ice Age. Aneto's French name, Pic de Néthou, is in disuse as the mountain lies entirely within Spain, specifically in the province of Huesca in Aragon. First climbed in 1842 by a Russian named Chikhachev. See Pyrenean glaciers melting fast . Chullo : Chullo (2,609m) in the eastern edge of the Sierra Nevada is the highest peak in the province of Almeria.

External links : Ascensión al Chullo Naranjo de Bulnes : Naranjo de Bulnes or Picu Urriellu as it is known in Asturias, is surely the most striking though not the highest mountain in the Picos de Europa. " Naranjo de Bulnes is a limestone horn of almost sheer walls which rises above the village of Bulnes to more than 2,500 metres. Its base resembles an immense chunk of bread. Until well into the spring its fissures and crags are adorned with blankets of snow. Climbing Picu Urriellu is extremely difficult, and although each of its faces has been conquered, it is still by far the Spanish mountain to have claimed most lives of climbers. Mountaineers employ the latest gear and methods to make its ascent. The sophistication of their equipment is incredible. However, as is often the case, the first climb was the simplest of all, and for that, the most incredible. A few photographs remain of the two participants.

The first to conquer Picu Urriellu was Pedro Pidal, the Marques of Villaviciosa, in the summer of 1904, at a time when the contemporary fashion of the sport added a certain charm to the life of an aristocrat. He was accompanied by Gregorio Pérez acting as a guide, a shepherd from the village of Cain, who was known as 'El Cainejo'. The gear of the two climbers was made up of a haversack with something to eat and a couple of ropes ... The Marques wore gaiters and hunting boots and El Cainejo, espadrilles ." (From Manuel de Lope 's Iberia: La Puerta Iluminada parte 1 - my rough and adapted translation) One is reminded of the colonial relationship of Sherpa Tenzing and Edmund Hillary. El Cainejo in his espadrilles accompanies the Marques in his boots. The Marques went on to play a pivotal role in Spanish natural history and conservation. Of El Cainejo, there is little more. He probably went back to his sheep and hunting deer, though there is a monument to him in Asturias.

Read complete article here Weirdly, Naranjo de Bulnes is exactly 88km from the nearest three provincial capitals: Oviedo, Santender and León. It is known as Naranjo (or Naranco) de Bulnes because of its orange hue in the evening light. The highest mountain in Picos de Europa is Torre Cerredo. They say the Picos get their name from the fact they were the first land to be spotted by sailors returning home from the Atlantic. 5 Major Mountains in Spain | Getaway Tips - azcentral.com 5 Major Mountains in Spain by David Jenison Share on Facebook Spain has a mountain near Barcelona with ties to Arthurian lore. Another mountain sits on the coast of a tourist island with views of the Mediterranean Sea. In the north, Spain even has a coastal mountain range that allows you to ski and surf in the same day. Beaches might be the country's calling card, but Spain's mountains can be equally majestic. Pyrenees Forming a natural barrier between Spain and France, the Pyrenees Mountains glisten with snow-capped peaks, sheer cliffs and deep valleys graced with waterfalls, rivers and lush forest.

A section of the Pyrenees has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the Aneto mountain, at more than 11,000 feet high, is one of the highest peaks in Spain. Adventure junkies visit the Pyrenees for rock climbing, skiing and white-water rafting. Montserrat About 40 miles inland from Barcelona, Montserrat is as much a pilgrimage as it is a mountain. In the Montserrat Mountain Nature Reserve, the "jagged mountain" -- as its name literally translates from Catalan -- has large rock formations that stretch into the sky. Thousands of climbing routes beckon trekkers and rock climbers, but the 1,000-year-old Montserrat monastery at 4,000 feet gives sacred significance to the mountain. The Benedictine abbey houses the Black Madonna statue, and according to legend, it once possessed the Holy Grail. Sierra Nevada The Sierra Nevada in southeast Spain will let you ski near the Mediterranean Sea. This coastal range, set in the UNESCO-honored Sierra Nevada National Park, towers over the country with the 11,500-foot Mulhacen, the highest peak in Spain and one of the highest in Europe.

Several mountains exceeding 10,000 feet in height -- Cerro del Caballo, Pico del Veleta and Mulhacen -- welcome trekkers with hiking trails and accommodations. Picos de Europa "The Peaks of Europe" appear menacing with a tremendous limestone mass whose topography has been dramatically shaped by acidic rainwater. In stark contraction, its valleys kiss the camera lens with lush greenery and lakes. Rock and ice climbers visit the Picos for an adrenaline rush, though its most identifiable peak, Naranjo de Bulnes, is also one of the most challenging to climb. The Picos form part of the Cantabrian Mountains near the surf-friendly coast of northern Spain. Serra de Tramuntana Europeans flood the Balearic Islands to party on Ibiza, but neighboring Majorca gives you a mountain trek with perched views of the Mediterranean Sea and the island's deep-blue lakes. The Serra de Tramuntana runs along the northwest coast of Majorca with memorable sights like pine trees emerging from red rock formations and sheer limestone cliffs dropping a 1,000 feet into the Sea. The range's highest peak, Puig Major, is nearly 5,000 feet in elevation.

References Mountain Info Mountain Info Here is some additional info on some of the mountains that are listed with primary factors above 1300 meter. In particular, the determination of the primary factor, by way of the location of the lowest saddle on the highest route to any higher mountain is often described. Mount Blanc Location: Highest point in continental Europe Saddle: Along the Volga-Baltic Canal at 113 m Saddle location: N60:42:12, E037:07:46 Nearest main airport: Geneva in Switzerland. Nearest town: Chamonix Difficulty: PD, Technically easy, some exposure, a high mountain Mountain hut: Several, Refuge de Gouter on the standard route. Note: The elevation has long been 4808 m, however, recent adjustments now make it 4810 meter. General: This mountain is the highest in (continental) Spain. Location: N37:03:16, W003:18:36 Location:Sierra Nevada, south-east side of Spain. Saddle: Col de Naurouze at 194 meter.

Saddle location: N43:21:04, E001:48:55 Nearest airport: Malaga, Costa del Sol area. Difficulty: This mountain is an easy walk. Note: The elevation has long been 3482 m, however, recent adjustments now make it 3479 meter. General: This mountain is the highest in the Pyrenees, Spain. Location: N42:37:56, E000:39:28 Location: Pyrenees, north in Spain, close to the French border. Saddle: Puerta de Dima, 592m. Saddle location: N43:04:41, W002:40:56 Nearest airport: Toulouse in France or Barcelona in Spain. Difficulty: F+, A long, but easy hike, mixed rock and snow. A short pitch YDS class 3 immediately before the summit. General: This mountain is the highest on the island Sicily.

Location: North 37:45.304, East 014:59.715 Location: West of Southern Italy Saddle: Ocean Nearest airport: Catania or Palermo Difficulty: YDS class 2 Location: North 42:22.781, East 008:56.737 Location: Corsica in the Mediterranean, south of France Saddle: Ocean Nearest airport: Nice, Marseille + ferry or Ajaccio, Calvi, Bastia on Corsica Difficulty: YDS class 3 Elevation: 2925 meter Primary factor: 2473 meter General: This mountain is the highest in Bulgaria and south-east Europe. A good starting point is the ski resort Borovets. Location: N42:10:47, E023:35:12 Location: In the Tila mountain range, North 42:10:47, East 23:35:12. Saddle: Is located near Presevo, 452 meter.

Saddle location: North 42:17:20, East 21:41:45 Nearest main airport: About 73 km to Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria. Difficulty: This mountain is an easy walk, Timios Stavros (Psiloritis, Óros Idi) Elevation: 2456 meter General: This is the island of Crete HP. Location: N35:13.580, E024:46.250 Location: The mountain range is called Óros Idi. Saddle: Ocean Nearest main airport: Heraklio (or Chania) Difficulty: Easy, but possibly long walk. General: 2nd. highest on Crete. Location: N35:17:33, E024:02:00 General: The highest peak in the Apennines. Location: N42:28:12, E13:34:02 Location: About 115 km north-east of Rome. Saddle: Colle di Cadibona, 436 m.

Saddle Location: N44:20:18, E008:20:59 Difficulty: Normal route is YDS class 2+ Hotel: Albergo di Campo Imperatore, phone +39-0862-411257 General: The highest peak in Scandinavia Location: North 61:38:11, East 008:18:41 (UTM: 32, 463557 +6833880) Location: About 350 km north of Oslo, in Jotunheimen. Closest higher mountain: Tatra mountains, Poland/Slovakia Saddle: East of the Baltic to White Sea canal, NW of Poca at 97 meter. Saddle location: Approx. North 62:18:15, East 37:46:37. The mountain is separated from other (higher) areas by a system of rivers connecting the Baltic Sea with the White Sea (Arctic).

Nearest town: Lillehammer Nearest main airport: Oslo Airport Difficulty: YDS class 2, F-, An easy hike, a first route requires the crossing of a crevassed glacier, a second route with more vertical gain avoids this altogether. Hotel: High quality mountain lodges (with road access) at Juvasshytta (first route) and Spiterstulen (second route). Elevation: 2109 m Primary factor: 1750 m General: Sweden HP, The peak (south summit) is a glacier summit, the highest rock below the south summit (about 2070 meter) is lower than the 2097 meter north summit of Kebnekaise. The summit elevation has been decreasing in recent years. The connecting ridge is sharp and icy and may be difficult to traverse. Location: Lappland Location: North 67:54:03, East 18:31:10 Saddle: East of Tunnsjøen at 359 m.

Saddle location: North 64:40:02, East 013:39:47 (UTM: 33 436168 +7172061) Closest higher mountain: Snøhetta in Norway. Nearest main airport: Kiruna. Difficulty: YDS class 2, (Easy, but a long walk.) Mountain hut:Kebnekaise Fjällstation. The Pyrenees Mountains Subscribe To This Site's Feed The Pyrenees Mountains The Pyrenees is a chain of mountains that forms a natural barrier between France and Spain. They extend from the Bay of Biscay to the Mediterranean Sea, a distance of about 270 miles. They cover an area of over 20,000 square miles. Their average height is only 3,500 ft (1067 m.), but many peaks in the central ranges rise to over 10,000 feet above sea level. The highest point is Pico de Aneto at 11,168 ft (3,404 m.). Glacier fields are found on the northern slopes of the mountains.

Minerals found in these mountains include iron, lead, silver and cobalt. Beautiful forests of fir, pine and oak cover the slopes of the mountains. On the south slope of the Eastern Pyrenees is tiny Andorra, one of the smallest countries in the world. Its capital, Andorra la Vella, is the highest capital city in Europe, being at an elevation of 3,356 ft (1023 m.). I used to have a Great Pyrenees, which is a famous breed of large white dog that comes from these mountains.

Question: Aneto is the highest mountain in which European mountain range?
Answer: PYRENEES